Believing, Though You Haven't Seen

John 20:19-30

     Jesus is alive!

     Mary has seen Him. Now Jesus would appear to His disciples!

     Who are assembled behind closed doors, fearful of the religious leaders...

     Think about the disciples situation for a moment. They were being blamed for Jesus' disappearance from the tomb. The religious leaders wanted Jesus to die...and stay dead. The disciples are in danger, they will be persecuted. And then Jesus walks into their midst, shows them His hands, His side, and gives them peace.

     Peace from the anguish of fear, doubt and unbelief...

    An absent disciple, Thomas, refuses to take the disciples' word that Jesus has appeared to them. Unless I, "...see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.", states Thomas. He wants to know for sure, to be given the same opportunity for belief that the other disciples were given.

     Eight days later, the disciples are shut up again, and Thomas is with them.  Jesus walks into their midst offering them peace. Then He turns to Thomas and says, "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing." Jesus was fully aware of the anguish of unbelief that Thomas was struggling with. He knew that Thomas wasn't satisfied with hearing about the experience of the other disciples, but rather wanted to see for himself. Jesus met Thomas right where he was, He wanted Thomas to be free of doubt and full of belief.

     Thomas was!  "My Lord and my God!", he exclaimed to Jesus. Thomas had seen and believed.

     Then Jesus proclaims a blessing, "...Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

     What is keeping you from the peace of Jesus?

     Is it fear...doubt...unbelief?

     Jesus knows. He knew what Thomas was struggling with, He knows the anguish you are feeling. And He wants you to believe every bit as much as He wanted Thomas to believe. You are precious to Him. The scars from crucifixion He allowed the disciples to touch - well, those represent what He did for you, too!

     Jesus has left earth. After He spoke with His disciples one last time on earth, they watched as He was taken up into Heaven. (Acts 1:9-11) We do not have the opportunity to see His scars and believe. But that is not a bad thing.

     To those of us who believe, even though we haven't seen, Jesus calls us "blessed"!